Systems and methods for selective targeting of structural features in treating skin conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for locating anatomical features in the skin based on analysis of reflected light, and treating the located anatomical features using high-energy light. A labeling agent can be administered to optically differentiate the anatomical feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of targeting anatomical structures in the skin, the method comprising:
 applying a labeling agent to a portion of the skin of a subject to optically differentiate spatial locations that include microscopic anatomical features; 
 analyzing light reflected from the skin to locate the anatomical features, each spatial location of each anatomical feature being optically differentiated from surrounding skin as a result of the application of the labeling agent; and 
 sequentially targeting a coherent light source at the located anatomical features and delivering coherent light thereto. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the anatomical features are at least one of glands or hairs. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the glands are at least one of sebaceous glands or sweat glands. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the sweat glands are eccrine glands. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the labeling agent is methylene blue, and wherein the anatomical features are sweat glands. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further including the step of inducing the labeling agent towards the anatomical feature. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the labeling agent is electrically charged, and wherein the labeling agent is induced towards the anatomical features by application of an electric field. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein the electric field is applied via iontophoresis. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  wherein the labeling agent is induced towards the anatomical features using vibration administered ultrasonically. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the labeling agent is a metallic nanoparticle. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the labeling agent is biologically active. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the labeling agent is aminolevulinic acid. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein light reflected from the skin is used to form an image of the skin using an imaging device, and wherein the image is analyzed to locate the anatomical features. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of analyzing comprises at least one of detection of an absorption spectrum of the labeling agent, comparison of an attribute of the light reflected from the skin with a threshold, or comparison of sizes of located anatomical features with a range of expected sizes for the anatomical features, wherein the coherent light is delivered only to anatomical features with sizes falling within the range. 
     
     
       15. A system for targeting anatomical features in the skin, the system comprising:
 a photo instrument configured to receive light reflected from an area of the skin of a subject; 
 a coherent light source configured to emit coherent light at targeted anatomical features in the skin; 
 an actuator configured to select anatomical features in the skin targeted by the coherent light source; and 
 a controller having a processor and a memory with instructions executable by the processor, the controller being configured to:
 analyze light reflected from the skin and received by the photo instrument to spatially locate the anatomical features in the skin, each anatomical feature being optically differentiated from its surroundings as a result of the application of the labeling agent to the skin; and 
 administer coherent light to multiple sets of anatomical features by using the actuator to sequentially target the coherent light source at spatial locations of each of the located anatomical features without targeting surrounding skin. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the anatomical feature is located by identifying a location of a label based on one or more optical characteristics, wherein the label marks the location of the anatomical feature in the skin. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15  wherein surrounding tissue is avoided by adjusting one or more parameters of the delivery of the coherent light. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  wherein the parameter adjusted is at least one of the duration of coherent light delivery, the number of instances of coherent light delivery, the intensity of coherent light delivered, the precise location targeted relative to the label, or the portion of the label that is targeted. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein the portion of the label that is targeted is a peripheral region of the label. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15  wherein the photo instrument is a camera, and wherein the controller is configured to: a. acquire an image of an area of the skin using the camera; and b. process the image to locate the anatomical features targeted by the coherent light source. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15  wherein the controller is configured to map relative positions of the anatomical features on a grid overlaid on an area of the skin. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 15  wherein the anatomical features are at least one of sweat glands, hairs, or sebaceous glands. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 15  wherein the controller is further configured such that analyzing comprises comparison of an attribute of the light reflected from the skin with a threshold, and wherein anatomical features are located based on the comparison. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  wherein the attribute is intensity of the reflected light, or wavelengths of the reflected light. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 15  wherein the controller is further configured such that analyzing comprises comparing sizes of located anatomical features with a range of expected sizes for the anatomical features, and wherein the controller is configured to only deliver coherent light to anatomical features with sizes falling within the range. 
     
     
       26. A method of treating hyperhidrosis comprising:
 labeling a sweat gland by applying a labeling agent to a portion of the skin; 
 imaging the portion of the skin to locate the labeled sweat gland; and 
 delivering energy to the labeled and located sweat gland using a laser, wherein the delivery of energy is sufficient to reduce or eliminate secretions from the labeled sweat gland. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  wherein labeling the sweat gland includes at least one of application of an electric current, or iontophoresis of the labeling agent. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26  wherein the labeling agent is methylene blue. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 26  wherein the labeled sweat gland is identified via image processing for location of the labeling agent. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 26  wherein the laser has an ablative wavelength. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 26  wherein the laser is an erbium laser. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31  wherein the erbium laser has a wavelength of substantially 2940 nm. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31  wherein the laser is a CO 2  laser. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 26  further including the steps of: a. locating a second sweat gland; and b. firing the laser at the second sweat gland. 
     
     
       35. A method for non-invasively treating hyperhidrosis comprising:
 imaging a section of the skin to locate a sweat gland; and 
 ablating the located sweat gland using a laser fired from above the skin. 
 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35  further including the step of labeling the sweat gland with a labeling agent. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36  wherein the sweat gland is labeled via application of an electric current. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 36  wherein labeling the sweat gland includes iontophoresis of methylene blue. 
     
     
       39. A system for treating hyperhidrosis including:
 a laser; 
 an imager; and 
 a controller having a processor configured to execute instructions to:
 1) capture an image of a portion of a skin using the imager; 
 2) process the image to locate a labeled sweat gland from tissue surrounding the sweat gland; and 
 3) fire the laser at the located sweat gland to disrupt the sweat gland without disrupting the tissue surrounding the sweat gland. 
 
 
     
     
       40. The system of  claim 39  wherein disruption to tissue surrounding the sweat gland is avoided by adjusting one or more parameters of the delivery of the coherent light. 
     
     
       41. The system of  claim 40  wherein the parameter adjusted is the duration of coherent light delivery. 
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 40  wherein the parameter adjusted is the number of instances of coherent light delivery. 
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 40  wherein the parameter adjusted is the intensity of coherent light delivered. 
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 40  wherein the parameter adjusted is the precise location at which the laser is fired relative to the label. 
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 39  wherein the laser is aimable under the control of the controller, wherein the processor is further configured to: a. locate a second sweat gland; b. position the laser so as to target the second sweat gland; and c. fire the laser at the second sweat gland. 
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 45  wherein the processor is further configured to repeat the locate, position, and fire steps until no additional sweat gland is located. 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 39  wherein the processor is further configured to repeat the locate, position, and fire steps until a predetermined fraction of sweat glands has been treated.